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The charity, Age Cymru, warns that around 50,000 pensioners in Wales lives in 'severe' poverty. The group is calling on the Welsh Government to do more to support older people across the country.

Tackling poverty remains a key priority for the Welsh Government and I am committed to taking forward a number of programmes that lift people out of poverty or stop the risk of them falling into it.

Examples of our work include appointing an Older People's Commissioner to champion older people's rights, announcing further grant funding of £1million for front-line advice services and fully-funding our free local bus travel service for older or disabled people. There are 725,000 bus passes in circulation, demonstrating the success and popularity of the scheme.

However, we recognise that it is important to identify new opportunities to reduce poverty and improve the lives of those living in the poorest parts of Wales

Older people's charity, Age Cymru, has warned almost 50,000 pensioners in Wales live in 'severe' poverty.

Research by the charity found that 84,000 older people in Wales live in poverty. Credit: PA

Graeme Francis, from Age Cymru, said: "All older people should have an adequate standard of living.

"No-one should be faced with a calamitous reduction in their standard of living when they retire or be resigned to a life where they are forced to choose between basic essentials in order to make ends meet."

The charity says more needs to be done to help support older people in Wales.

Older people's charity Age Cymru says its estimates up to 50,000 scams could have been committed in Wales over a year - but only around 2,500 were reported, and there were only a handful of prosecutions.

The charity has today called on the Welsh Government to act to protect older people against scams.

Between February 2012 and February 2013:

More than 2,500 scams were reported to Trading Standards departments in Wales

Age Cymru estimates that up to 50,000 scams could have been committed in Wales- as the Office of Fair Trading believes that only 5 per cent of scams are ever reported

Just under 1,000 doorstep scams were reported in Wales, with 19 prosecutions

More than 1,650 mail/phone/online scams were reported in Wales, with two prosecutions

The Welsh Government says its committed to extending No Cold Calling Zones in Wales. It comes as the older person's charity Age Cymru calls for more action to be taken to protect older people from becoming victims of scams.

In our Programme for Government, we made a commitment to supporting the extension of No Cold Calling Zones. We recently announced over £35,000 to support Local Authorities in developing new zones which will cover an extra 10,000 homes approximately, taking the total number of properties covered to around 50,000.

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A Welsh charity is calling for government action to protect older people from scams and rogue traders.

The 'Scams and Swindles' campaign marks the beginning of Scams Awareness Month and urges the Welsh Government to increase the number of 'No Cold Calling Zones' in local authorities.

There are currently over 1,500 zones covering almost 40,000 residential households in Wales.

It also asks telephone companies and internet service providers to provide more protection against scam mail, calls and messages.

Gerry Keighley, from Age Cymru, said: "Older people who are targeted and caught up in scams lose an average £1,200 each, but they can lose much, much more - their life savings, their self-esteem, their dignity and even the will to live.

"Families can also be devastated by scams as some older people end up trusting the scammers more than they do their own relatives."

Local councils will be required to develop plans to improve access to public toilets under new proposals to be announced next week. Older people's lobby groups have raised concerns about poor provision of public toilets, saying it plays a part in loss of independence.

Ian Thomas from Age Cymru says we need to look after the elderly members of our communities at Christmas and during the rest of they year. Research by the charity revealed that 22% of older people in Wales weren't looking forward to Christmas because it makes them feel 'more lonely'